Against the barren expanse that day, lay a tome. Not strange in any way, physically. But the inside, yes, inside drew the power of all that exist around it. The epicenter of every beings energy dwell deep within the books core. Though, unknown at the time, this books very being was destined to ring in the downfall of all humanity. Many stories were formed as to how the book came to be, none of which can be held true. All that is known is that it exists, as does the grass upon the ground.
Ten score years ago, a great emperor came to power. Lord Valmar, as his subjects were forced to say, sought to find this very book and delve into it's pages, seeking the very meaning behind it's position. As it was done. The book was recovered was a shallow crevice outside one of the four hamlets of Hinton. Lord Valmar brought it back, and researched it's contents for many a year.
A night, unlike any other at first glance, was to be the nights of many woes. Lord Valmar had succeeded in his quest, the books mysteries and information had been leeched from it's cryptic pages. As it came to be, three very distinct occurrences came from the unleashing of books 'power.'
First, was the deformation of the four hamlets. Each was brought to a single blade of grass, and fertile ground, as far as the eye could see. What was once there, could never be remembered. What never could be remembered, was lost into fable and myth. The lands upon which sat the mighty empire of Hinton, were lost into time.
Second, a race of people, different from each around them, were placed into one of the four hamlets. The Humans, the Elves, the Orcs, and the Shadows. As it was, each would be expected to create a different world in which to live, thus, four entirely different ways of life, unknown to each other. All essential knowledge and skills were granted to these people, along with the necessary provisions to last them through the coming year. Upon this basis, four very different lands were formed. The highly intelligent, tree dwelling Elves. The cunning and strong, stabile yet reckless Humans. The barbaric, but structured Orcs. The mysterious, ground dwelling Shadows.
Third, the book, and it's keeper, Lord Valmar, ceased to exist. Never seen again. Fable tells of a hero that will one day reunite the hamlets, and reform Hinton as it once stood. It speaks of a hero, so bold and daring, that no obstacle is to mighty for his ever longing heart. "In his true grasp that day, lay the Book of Time, his goal and aspiration, never falling from his selfless hand for an immortals eternity."